Category Archives: Fitness

So it’s been a month since I told you all about my Fit2B Studio personal challenge! I’m going to be upfront and honest, since that’s how I like to be. I made it through the first three weeks just fine, but now that the weather is nice, I find myself putting off my workouts.

I was fairly consistent with working out 3-4 days per week for the first three weeks, and it felt good. However, I definitely have noticed how very weak my core is, and that tells me I have a long road ahead of me yet. Thankfully, I will have Fit2B Studio to help me regain my strength.

Did any of you jump to the challenge? What do you like to do to keep your body healthy and your core strong?

I struggle with exercising. I find that I dread the thought of high intensity workouts that leave me hurting and exhausted. I also realize that my core needs some real help after birthing four babies. I have something called diastasis recti, which is a separation of the abdominal muscles. Many women have it and have no idea. It can cause all sorts of issues.

About a year ago I came across a fantastic website called Fit2B Studio. The workouts are gentle yet effective, totally tummy safe (for those with core issues) and I really appreciate that Beth Learn, the founder and personal trainer in the videos, dresses modestly.

Fit2B Studio offers almost 100 streaming workout videos of varying difficulty. Membership also comes with great personal support from Beth, member forums, even a Roku channel for those that have Roku.

I have challenged myself to one month of consistent Fit2B workouts, and I want to share my journey here. Starting this week, for the next four weeks, I will be doing at least three or four workouts per week. I hope to work toward healing my core and becoming a stronger version of me.

Feel free to join me! I’d love to have some accountability. Membership is $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Stay tuned as I update, and maybe even offer something special for our readers.

We ALL know we need to make fitness a priority, but man, some days finding making the time seems impossible. If you’re caring for little ones it’s just that much harder. I have found that most of us have an “all or nothing” approach to fitness. That means, if you can’t make it to the gym or do a full workout at home, you skip your workouts entirely for that day. Sound familiar? It’s okay, I’ve been there too. But doing that can easily turn into a habit and you find yourself frustrated and back at square one.

What you should do, is try to get in at least a few mini workouts in. Something is truly better than nothing.

“What are these “mini workouts?”, you ask?

Short bursts of physical activity.

I do what I call my “mommy workouts.” Even if I know I’m going to the gym that day, I’ll do these mini workouts to make sure I don’t miss out, just in case life throws me a curve ball later in the day. Also, they’re fun and really boost my mood!

It all adds up.

The surgeon general recommends 30 minutes of exercise per day, 5 days a week. And it doesn’t have to be 30 consecutive minutes a day. So, these can get you where you need to be.

Some of my favorite places to get inspiration for these workouts are on YouTube. I’ll watch them and write down something I wanna try, maybe practice it with the video, and then do it on my own. I might have music playing while I’m cleaning house or doing laundry, and I’ll literally just stop and workout. Then get back to my task.

I hope you’ll start moving more. The benefits of physical activity are numerous, and we all know it.

Here’s some of my current go-to’s, but you can find a ton of vids. Watch several, then bookmark them for later.

No need to spend money right now. Just start moving, changing your life one mini workout at a time. Good luck!

Please listen to your body, and confirm with your doctor before starting this or any fitness regimen.

Since 2003, when I was first introduced to the practice of yoga, I’ve felt a closeness to God while on my mat. The stillness, the quiet allowed me to focus on God’s presence and never have I feel it more strongly. That was one of the reasons I was so drawn to Yoga, and the best times on the mat were either alone or in a class with an instructor who didn’t speak Sanskrit or read mantras. Often times though, I had to block out what the instructor might be saying, since it usually didn’t align with my Christan faith. I was on a mission for awhile, to find “Christian yoga.” I found a few books, but never a DVD…until now!

“We believe that yoga, like all other things in our lives, should be used to glorify God… Atoning Yoga is a full body workout that tones your mind, body, and soul. “

If you’re a Christ following yogi, that should make you say, Yes!

it did me:)

I really love the Extended Grace DVD by Atoning Yoga. It’s great for beginners, my kiddos have even done it with me. It’s easy to follow and at a very peaceful pace, and it’s broken into three sessions: 15 min, 20 min and 45 min. So it’s very easy to work into our busy schedules. And I love how it’s focused around scripture, like from 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you.”

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If you are looking for a way to add some peace to your life, wanting to finally do yoga or wanting a tool to help deepen your walk with God, Atoning Yoga DVD for you!

She {hearts} Freebies

I’m excited to tell you that Atoning Yoga is giving one of our readers a copy of their DVD, Extending Grace!

Let’s face it, staying in shape is a tough thing for many women, especially while pregnant (and not to mention being pregnant while chasing one or more other little ones)! Through my three pregnancies, I have tried different plans and dvds to try to stay in shape, only to quit after just a few workouts. Exhaustion and boredom quickly set in for me when it comes to working out, and during pregnancy I need something that not only catches my interest, but gives me results and makes my tired body feel good, rather than, well, more tired.

Knocked Up Fitness provides a pregnant mama a doable, safe workout suitable for all stages of pregnant. Erica Ziel, founder of Knocked Up Fitness, created these workout DVDs (Prenatal Pilates-Infused Fitness and Prenatal Core Pilates Workouts) to help a woman have a more comfortable pregnancy, have an easier labor and delivery, and help her get back to her pre-baby body more quickly after baby. Knocked Up Fitness relies on pilates, which, according to Erica, is the most effective and safe form of exercise for a pregnant woman, since it incorporates the strengthening of deep core muscles. When performing the exercises on the Knocked Up Fitness DVDs, Erica encourages mom-to-be to take it slow, drink water, and listen to her body, taking breaks when needed.

Knocked Up Fitness sent me both videos to try, and I am super impressed by them. Erica’s workouts are easy to follow, without too much instruction (I like it to be to the point!), and are between 30-60 minutes, which is doable for me. I have been following along with the DVDs for a few weeks now, and at 25 weeks I am still able to do the exercises with relative ease (but perhaps not look as great as Erica does in the process!). I am familiar with pilates and have always been relatively active exercise-wise, but I feel that even a exercise novice could pick the exercises up quickly and easily. I feel like I will be able to continue these workouts throughout my pregnancy, modifying when needed.

The Prenatal Pilates-Infused Fitness DVD encourages a combination of different workout segments and suggests a weekly schedule that changes up the exercises depending on the day of the week. I especially loved the variety of this DVD! My favorite workout segments were the pilates arms and total body pilates. I love how Erica encourages you to “hug your baby” as a means of keeping your core muscles tight and engaged. The Prenatal Core Pilates Workouts DVD is a little more straightforward with a simple core cardio segment and pilates yoga segment, as well as a short core “crash course” segment. I love the variety of this DVD as well, and definitely have felt the “good sore” feeling after following along. I am excited to continue these workouts throughout my pregnancy and look forward to seeing the results of my work after my pregnancy as well. It also doesn’t hurt to hear my three year old daughter encourage me while she watches me work out. She throws out plenty of comments, like “That’s very great, mommy!” and “Bravo, mommy!” and “Maybe someday I will do those exercises with you.” and “I really love to watch you exercise!” She kills me! On one occasion, she even got out one of her small inflatable balls and tried to do the workouts involving the exercise ball along with me. I love setting an example of enjoying fitness for my daughter, and these videos have definitely given me the opportunity to show her that even though mommy is pregnant, mommy can still stay fit and healthy.

Over the past few months I’ve been discovering the benefits of being barefoot. I find that working out barefoot is so much easier on my body, and I don’t lose my balance like I do in shoes. So when I look at footwear, whether it’s for myself or my kids, I want to have something that is as close to barefoot as possible.

Vivobarefoot sent a great pair of shoes for Rowan. The Neo Kids Velcro from Vivobarefoot are exactly what I was looking for. Rowan loves them, although he seems to have outgrown them very quickly… he has grown over an inch in the last couple of months, so it’s no wonder his shoes don’t fit either! I’m looking to get him another pair soon. He says they are great for running, and he was super excited to be able to wear them for playing sports at school.

These shoes are super flexible to provide the best for your child’s feet. If you’re looking for a shoe that will allow you to feel the ground beneath you, you will want to give these a try.

No correlation with “green beer,” only a coincidence. ;) Seriously, I did not put two and two together until I sat down to write this post. It must be in my subconscious mind. Well, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I have been making green water for about a year now. I have a juicer and use it ever so often, but I find it really hard to juice leafy-green produce. You have to roll it up really well and still it gets stuck and sometimes the machine doesn’t do its best juicing job if it’s juicing leafy-green veggies. If you have a really awesome juicer you might not have this problem, but let’s say you are able to juice leafy-green veggies with ease. Man, that would be some potent green juice. Might be like drinking a Guinness (wink). Maybe on occasion, YUM! But not everyday! :)

You can use any leafy-green veggies. I switch it up between parsley, kale and, spinach.

It’s a very refreshing “healthy” drink. Don’t expect it to taste yum, but it’s not bad. Even my hubby agrees. He isn’t really one to get on-board when I use my juicer, but he’s been known to ask me to make him a green water. “Why?” you may ask; because it makes you feel awesome! I have a ton more energy when I’m drinking green water.

Directions:

Wash your produce, unless it’s already been “triple washed”–don’t ya love when the organic spinach says that? Add your green veggies and the amount of water needed to match your servings to your blender. Blend until liquified. Strain it well. The pulp can be used to make your homemade pesto. No waste! I will often freeze the pulp until I am ready to make the pesto. Pour into glasses and be sure to add lots of lemon and I mean a lot! Sometimes I add ice when I’m blending it so it’s extra cold. Enjoy!

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This weekend could be a GREAT time for you to introduce your family to “green water!” Tell ‘em if they don’t drink it, they’ll get pinched! ;)